Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2020 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. The future of K9 units in Saugus It was clear from last Friday’s ceremony at Riverside Cemetery: the K9 Unit has been a great asset at various times in the history of the Saugus Police Department. But there have been some gaps, like the yearplus hiatus since the death of the beloved K9 Bruin in March of last year and the retirement several months later of the dog’s handler, Officer Tim Fawcett. Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said in a brief interview yesterday that a lot of uncertainty surrounds the future of K9 units, influenced in part by recent police reform efforts that would phase out the K9 units. Legislation is pending that would eliminate the dogs. Whether it passes is another story. Meanwhile, there are the fiscal realities. There is no money in the Saugus Police Department budget to replace the K9 unit. When it comes to the proper training of the canine and the K9 officer, there are obvious costs involved, especially in the midst of COVID-19, that could make it harder for police departments to justify K9 units. There may be other more pressing priorities that get funded first. So, it may be several years before Saugus police and town officials revisit the issue of whether to reactivate the K9 unit – as they have done several times over the course of a half century. Fortunately, for those who advocate for a K9 unit, the team of K9 Bruin and Officer Fawcett was a huge success, especially working in the schools and the community. Mostly everybody in Saugus Public Schools knew about the friendly canine and his handler, especially the students. Last week, the Saugus Police Patrol Officers Union practically immortalized the legacy of the Saugus Police K9 units with the memorial that was unveiled. The Boston Bruins professional hockey team bought one of the red bricks that were sold to some two dozen local businesses that sponsored the project. Most folks in town who go and visit the new memorial to the K9 units will walk away feeling tons of respect for the dogs and the men who made a difference in their service to the town. Stay tuned. Better late than never Saugus residents (and former town residents or residents from nearby towns) who have made it an autumn tradition to pick up their pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch have got to be happy there will soon be an orange invasion of Saugus Center. After about an eight day-delay, the “Pumpkin Truck” is expected to arrive on the lawn of First Congregational Church along Hamilton Street sometime Sunday (Oct. 11). Halloween (Oct. 31) is still three weeks away. There’s still plenty of time to pick out a pumpkin to carve out, decorate, display or whatever. Adopt a Revolutionary Saugus soldier Looks like there are some neat projects going on in the old town burial ground at Saugus Center. Some of the ancient gravestones from the 1700s and 1800s look new. The burial ground is in great shape after a group of volunteers from the Maleah E. Graves (MEG) Foundation Board of Directors and the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Chapter spent some time last weekend sprucing things up. The cleanup action is turning into something more productive – digging into the history of some of the town’s ancestors who are buried in those old graves. “At our monthly meeting Wednesday, October 7, 2020, the board voted unanimously to ‘adopt’ a Revolutionary soldier buried in the First Parish Cemetery and write a bio about him,” MEG Foundation Board of Directors President Janice K. Jarosz wrote in a recent email. “Our goal is to bring ‘life’ into those long forgotten headstones through words. GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED? In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist goes out and mingles with townsfolk and sketches them. Got an idea who this Saugus resident might be? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. The first reader to respond between now and Tuesday morning and correctly identify the person sketched is the winner of a $10 gift certificate, compliments of Dunkin’ at the 1204 Broadway Saugus location at Route 1 North. But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identification in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) We have a winner! We have a winner in last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched” contest. Congratulations to Ann Marie Swanson. She contacted us first and guessed correctly. Here’s last week’s answer, offered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer for last week’s sketch is: Jack Doherty and Michelle Kelley. Jack Doherty and Michelle both love helping people and serving with the elderly. “Michelle has been a cook at the Senior Center and wears many hats since the COVID-19 shutdown. “Michelle is a Saugus High graduate of 1987. She is a whiz at math and a very kind woman who loves to listen to people. She worked at Eastern Bank for 15 years Her daughters are Jody and Stephanie and Grandson Oliver. “Jack Doherty drives the van for Saugus Senior Center and enjoys helping and assisting wherever he can whether it be carrying the elderly clients groceries from a shopping trip to assisting Opening doors and carrying bingo gear. Jack is a Veteran, and has three children Shannon, Todd, Ryan and six Grandchildren. Yours truly, The Sketch Artist” A “shout-out” for Janice K. Jarosz This week’s nomination comes from The Sketch Artist, who apparently drew some inspiration from this nominee that motivated this week’s sketch depicting the town’s first responders. “I would love to give a Shout Out to Janice J. for the shout out she gave to the woman who started taking “Eventually, when enough are gathered, we hope to publish a booklet about many of the Patriots from Saugus who left their families to fight in the Revolutionary War. Saugus has more than their share of brave men and women.” Sounds like a great project that will get residents talking about town history while building some community pride. the time to Thank our First Responders, by a heart,” the Sketch Artist wrote. “Anytime we can extend the hand of thankfulness and gratitude it adds value and appreciation to those out there on the frontlines serving. Janice, I have a heart in my window door and so do a couple of my friends I told about your shout out! It's very kind of you. Thank you for the grace-note! You can never go wrong thanking someone. Keep it up girl, you shine! “Sincerely to you Anonymous.” Want to “shout-out” a fellow Saugonian? This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@ comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or photo. Food Drive on Oct. 24 This just in from Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Corinne Riley: “The Town of Saugus, organized by the Board of Selectmen, has scheduled a third drop-off food and necessities drive to benefit the Saugus Senior Center and the Saugus Food Pantry, on Saturday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Saugus Senior Center, 466 Central St. “All items are appreciated, but there are many specific items that are in need, especially with the holidays fast approaching. They are: cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, turkey gravy, stuffing mix, canned ham, canned soups, canned pasta sauce, oatmeal, small cereal boxes, peanut butter, jelly, loaves of bread, pasta, paper towels and toilet paper.” In Person Early Voting – dates and times Town Clerk Ellen J. Schena requested that we let folks know about Early Voting. It is taking place in the Saugus Public Library at 295 Central St. Use the Taylor Street entrance. Here are the times: Saturday, Oct. 17 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23 – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 – 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. (this is also the last day to register to vote) Sunday, Oct. 25 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Some other important dates: Oct. 24; last day to register to vote/make changes to voter registration. Nov. 2; last day to apply for absentee ballot. Deadline is noon. Nov. 3; 2020 State/Presidential Election. Politics and religion The public is invited to a Zoom book discussion on “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion,” by Jonathan Haidt. The Rev. John T. Beach of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Saugus will lead the discussion group that will take place on Tuesday evenings for six consecutive weeks, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., beginning on Oct. 20. All are welcome. For more information and to receive a Zoom invitation, email johntbeach@comcast.com. Rev. Beach has been the priest at St. John’s since May. Since his arrival in Saugus, he has been conducting worship services by Zoom teleconferencing up until mid-August. He had previously served as an interim priest for The Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Taunton. THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 11
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